Incorporating Human-in-the-Loop Interactivity Through the Integration of Discrete Event Simulation and Virtual Reality

This paper introduces a groundbreaking framework that integrates Human-in-the-Loop capabilities into Discrete Event Simulation systems (DES), in combination with Virtual Reality (VR). This innovation represents a significant departure from traditional DES systems by enabling real-time human participation, thus enhancing adaptability, decision-making, and engagement within the simulation process. Leveraging the strengths of DES and VR, the proposed framework employs the High-Level Architecture to overcome interoperability challenges, ensuring efficient communication and synchronization between DES and VR components. Key contributions of this work include enhanced flexibility through task decomposition, improved system maintainability via a dynamic architecture that enhances accessibility for non-expert users, and an immersive, interactive user experience. By integrating humans directly into DES, this framework redefines simulation systems, opening new possibilities for interactive, human-driven applications across domains such as healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing. Our findings highlight the transformative potential of Human-in-the-Loop integration, offering a novel paradigm for smarter, more adaptive simulation environments.